A THUG attacked his partner and completely wrecked her flat after she gave him a place to stay on release from prison.

Christopher Kirby, who has an extensive record of violence against women, including his own mother, is back behind bars after a judge described his behaviour as "brutish".

Bolton Crown Court heard how 30-year-old Kirby and his partner had been in an on/off relationship for two and a half years and, in October 2020, he moved into her flat in Bolton on release from prison after serving a sentence for offences including attacking her.

Simon Barrett, prosecuting, told how, on the night of January 22 this year the pair were drinking and neighbours heard a disturbance, with Kirby becoming aggressive.

At 9am they were in bed, with the woman already suffering injuries to her face, when she said something "set him off".

Kirby smashed TVs, overturned furniture and destroyed the kitchen and dining areas.

"He caused the glass dining table to shatter. pulled down curtain rails, kicked off all the spindles on the bannister, plates were smashed and holes were made in the walls," said Mr Barrett.

"A police officer described the whole flat as being covered in smashed furniture," said Mr Barrett.

Kirby ordered his victim to go to the bathroom to clean her blood-covered face, but while she was there he hit her again, knocking her into the bath and onto debris.

She suffered a bruised and swollen face, a cut to the lip which needed stitches and cuts to her chest and shin.

As he left the flat neighbours heard Kirby say he would kill her if she called police.

Although already banned from driving, he grabbed the woman's car keys and drove off, only to crash and be arrested a short distance away.

Kirby, of Crompton Close, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, driving whilst banned, criminal damage and having no insurance and appeared in court for sentence via a video link from prison.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh heard how Kirby already has 46 convictions for 84 offences, including violence against his mother and previous partners.

"He has an utterly appalling record for brutish behaviour," said the judge.

But Jane Morris, defending, appealed for him to be freed from jail and stressed that he has been undertaking courses whilst inside prison to try and reform.

"He has reached a stage in his life where he is ready, willing and able to change," she said. "He now appreciates he needs help."

But Judge Walsh said that, although he was impressed by the efforts he is making, only a custodial sentence could be passed.

Kirby walked out of the video room as Judge Walsh sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

He was also banned from applying for a driving licence for six months after which he must pass and extended driving test.